U.S. to deploy anti-North Korean WMD missiles, in South Korea

Is the United States crazy? It's stretched thin around the world...and actually is playing "chicken" with North Korea? All experts agree...if there is one country in the Axis of Evil that would respond to American attacks or provocations with "total war", it would be North Korea. Why is the United States haranguing this regime (as bad as it is)? Why is the United States ASKING for a massive, all-out war with a regime that has biological, chemical, nuclear weapons and a 1 million man army?

Florida police taser man on wheelchair

Couldn't a group of police officers just jump on the guy and hold his hands? I mean..the guy has no leg power...should have been EASY to hold...

More unreal news...from Florida.

NEW RULE: If you are a Florida cop, you are forbidden to wield a taser until you learn elementary rules of common sense. This is the 4th case of high profile tasering....the other three against children.

The battle started when the U.S. mission chief placed Merry Christmas signs atop the mission, with the number 75 alongside them (the number 75 alludes to 75 political prisoners the U.S. is accusing Cuba of holding).

The retaliation of the Cubans was to place giant billboards of Abu Ghraib pictures alongside the U.S. mission to, in essence, tell the American mission, "don't lecture us on political prisoners and how to treat them...you guys tortured Iraqis and others at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib".

Now, Cuba's art students and cartoonists have added various caricatures on a road alongside the U.S. mission that depict various anti-imperialist themes (such as protesting the blockade, and depicting the U.S. chief as "Father Christmas" with a bag full of bombs, rather than presents).

Firebrand's Breath finds the Cubans actions to be an appropriate, civilized response to the unwanted intervention of the United States. Instead of threatening war or other hard sanctions, the Cubans have shown to be more mature than the United States, and revealed the hypocrisy of their political pronouncements in Cuba in an inventive and funny way.

Firebrand's Breath welcomes more symbolic actions by the Cuban government.

Time Magazine clarifies WHY it put Bush as Man of the Year!

Folks...I'm not kidding. Time Magazine just sent out Form Letters to all people emailing Time Magazine regarding how angry they are that Bush is selected as "Person of the Year". They explain that it's not an award, but a distinction given on the basis of whether or not the person has been influential (and one can persuasively argue that Bush has been VERY influential in world politics).

The question on everyone's minds is: "in what way? Good or bad?" Think Time would leave that ambigious to avoid scorn from either side of the political divide? NOT!

They clearly state in their letter that "to the latter category Bush is to be added in 2004". Before that line, they talk about the Good guys (Churchill, Eisenhower) and Bad guys (Hitler, Khomeini) won the award. Which side is the latter? The Hitler/Khomeini side.

WASH POST: U.S COMMITTED WAR CRIMES! EXPLOSIVE!

Are my eyes playing tricks on me....did the Washington Post, probably one of the most established/influential newspaper of the United States mass media (along with the New York Times) just editorialize that the United States committed war crimes in Iraq?

No longer communist, left-wing rags...rightwingies....the claim that the U.S. has committed war crimes is being re-inforced on the Washington Post.

With regards to the "rotten apples" angle...the Washington Post unabashedly bashes that with this, "The new documents establish beyond any doubt that every part of this cover story is false."

The myth of the rotten apples has been blown apart, by other articles, and by this one.

And for those that claimed the U.S. military is "investigating", look at what the Post says about military investigations.

"In many cases, Army investigations of these crimes were shockingly shoddy: Officials lost records, failed to conduct autopsies after suspicious deaths and allowed evidence to be contaminated. Soldiers found to have committed war crimes were excused with noncriminal punishments."

The evidence is clear...we committed war crimes, we tried to cover it up, the investigations were crappy, it's not just a few rotten apples, and this administration is not investigating.

Below is a reprint of the article, for those of you who do not have access to the Post's articles (you can register for free, but, for the lazy, I did it for you. Ain't I nice?)

THANKS TO a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union and other human rights groups, thousands of pages of government documents released this month have confirmed some of the painful truths about the abuse of foreign detainees by the U.S. military and the CIA -- truths the Bush administration implacably has refused to acknowledge. Since the publication of photographs of abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison in the spring the administration's whitewashers -- led by Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld -- have contended that the crimes were carried out by a few low-ranking reservists, that they were limited to the night shift during a few chaotic months at Abu Ghraib in 2003, that they were unrelated to the interrogation of prisoners and that no torture occurred at the Guantanamo Bay prison where hundreds of terrorism suspects are held. The new documents establish beyond any doubt that every part of this cover story is false.

Though they represent only part of the record that lies in government files, the documents show that the abuse of prisoners was already occurring at Guantanamo in 2002 and continued in Iraq even after the outcry over the Abu Ghraib photographs. FBI agents reported in internal e-mails and memos about systematic abuses by military interrogators at the base in Cuba, including beatings, chokings, prolonged sleep deprivation and humiliations such as being wrapped in an Israeli flag. "On a couple of occasions I entered interview rooms to find a detainee chained hand and foot in a fetal position to the floor, with no chair, food or water," an unidentified FBI agent wrote on Aug. 2, 2004. "Most times they had urinated or defecated on themselves, and had been left there for 18 to 24 hours or more." Two defense intelligence officials reported seeing prisoners severely beaten in Baghdad by members of a special operations unit, Task Force 6-26, in June. When they protested they were threatened and pictures they took were confiscated.

Other documents detail abuses by Marines in Iraq, including mock executions and the torture of detainees by burning and electric shock. Several dozen detainees have died in U.S. custody. In many cases, Army investigations of these crimes were shockingly shoddy: Officials lost records, failed to conduct autopsies after suspicious deaths and allowed evidence to be contaminated. Soldiers found to have committed war crimes were excused with noncriminal punishments. The summary of one suspicious death of a detainee at the Abu Ghraib prison reads: "No crime scene exam was conducted, no autopsy conducted, no copy of medical file obtained for investigation because copy machine broken in medical office."

Some of the abuses can be attributed to lack of discipline in some military units -- though the broad extent of the problem suggests, at best, that senior commanders made little effort to prevent or control wrongdoing. But the documents also confirm that interrogators at Guantanamo believed they were following orders from Mr. Rumsfeld. One FBI agent reported on May 10 about a conversation he had with Guantanamo's commander, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey D. Miller, who defended the use of interrogation techniques the FBI regarded as illegal on the grounds that the military "has their marching orders from the Sec Def." Gen. Miller has testified under oath that dogs were never used to intimidate prisoners at Guantanamo, as authorized by Mr. Rumsfeld in December 2002; the FBI papers show otherwise.

The Bush administration refused to release these records to the human rights groups under the Freedom of Information Act until it was ordered to do so by a judge. Now it has responded to their publication with bland promises by spokesmen that any wrongdoing will be investigated. The record of the past few months suggests that the administration will neither hold any senior official accountable nor change the policies that have produced this shameful record. Congress, too, has abdicated its responsibility under its Republican leadership: It has been nearly four months since the last hearing on prisoner abuse. Perhaps intervention by the courts will eventually stem the violations of human rights that appear to be ongoing in Guantanamo, Iraq and Afghanistan. For now the appalling truth is that there has been no remedy for the documented torture and killing of foreign prisoners by this American government.

Bush mumbles something into his tie at press conference...is he WIRED again or is he plain NUTS?

What the hell just happened? He is talking incoherently about Iraq...then stops to do a quick mumble to his tie...and then continues on his incoherent Iraq policy...

Either Bush is really crazy, as reports have surfaced about his mental condition in the White House (from aides leaking the story) OR Bush was again wired and was telling the one informing him something...it seems really odd. One thing's for sure...that was not part of the press conference, his speech, or his reply. SOMETHING interrupted his speech...

What the hell did he mumble? He sounds like he is saying "needle opener" or something like that.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

U.S. to cut food aid to the world; cites budget being tight

So, we cut food aid...but keep the military aid, which is like 1000 times more than the food aid. Never a tight budget when it comes to spending billions on missile defense systems that don't work. Never a tight budget when it comes to bailing out airlines...or spending 100 billion more in Iraq....never a tight budget...until it comes to healthcare, the quality of our education, or our spending on food and housing.

Some are calling for Bush to pardon "scavenging" G.I.s

Wasn't the President given this power to use it for good? In the past, Presidents have pardoned criminals and people who didn't deserve it, mostly at the end of their presidencies (with a few notable exceptions).

Well, he's the chance for President Bush to show the world he's really compassionate.

Powell to drop ball on NYC's Times Square; "oh...boy...."

Groan......Colin Powell to drop the ball in NY. I guess he's the expert, since he sure did "drop the ball" on the issue of Iraq and his memorable house negro performance in the U.N. Quite sad how Bush left him out to dry in front of all those nations' ambassadors...what a fool Powell made himself to be.

Can't we have a moment of reflection and celebration without having to glorify members of this administration?

"Tell me who your friends are...and I'll tell you who YOU are". Face it, Powell...your days of deferred condemnation because you were a military general with "honor" are up. You're now a kiss-ass house negro (as Harry Belafonte quite well put it), who lied in front of the entire world, and stood by that lie and the war that came with it. You're no better than the rest of the war criminals in the Bush administration.

Democrat wins Washington governorship after recount of votes

Recounts work, folks. A Democratic Governor in Washington State just won the recounted vote. The earlier vote went to the Republican...but hundreds of votes had been wrongfully thrown out...their counting raised her to victory...by 8 votes.

However, there are still 700 ballots being held up by the Republicans...who are afraid of using lawsuits to help the investigation in Ohio, but have no problem using lawsuits to DENY the counting of ballots or to FORCE Ohio vote "challengers" (intimidators).

There's your Republican Party priorities for you...when they are not denying gays the right to marry, denying women the right to choose what happens to THEIR bodies, or supporting the mass murdering of thousands in foreign countries, they are back home using dirty tricks to not allow a full count of the votes.

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

President Bush approved torture techniques: Explosive story!

ACLU has released a whole host of documents proving a lot of dirty tricks by this administration (with regards to torture). Two of the explosive claims: Bush authorized torture techniques via an Executive Order, and the Defense Dept. conducted torture interrogations in Guantanamo, Cuba, by impersonating FBI agents so that if the public ever got wind of what they were doing, the "FBI would be left holding the bag".

wow...now even the U.S. president is signing off on torture...and U.S. agencies are framing other U.S. agencies, in case of public backlash.

When the Defense Dept. has to impersonate the FBI, you know what they are doing is illegal and wrong...how our government has sunk....

Monday, December 20, 2004

What a way to make friends! Bush criticizes Iraqi troops!

If the insurgency wasn't enough...Bush criticizes the actions of the Iraqi troops fighting under U.S. command. What a way to try win the LITTLE hearts and minds left still in Iraq to be persuaded our way!

Hey Bush....you try fighting against your people and being labeled a collaborator some time...see how you react!

Starving the Beast....hook, line...and sinker!

Bush has announced that he will cut the deficit (that HE MADE) in half by adopting a very "strict disciple" toward domestic spending....

In other words...the long awaited and long-held ideological dream of starving the Roosevelt era welfare provisions to American citizens, as well as the Johnson era updates, is now going to become true.

How do you accomplish such a feat? Raise the deficit, cut taxes in a time of war, and then face the American people and say, "you want a better financial situation...we are going to have to tighten our belts and cut some of our cherished programs".

Unless the American people notice what this whole scheme was about, they will buy into Bush's/the Republican ideological programme of Starving the Beast.

Sunday, December 19, 2004

Rumsfeld did not sign death letters

Couldn't this man, who spends his waking hours PREACHING war, at least have the decency to honor the dead's families with his signatures on a piece of paper.

Rumsfeld shouldn't just resign...he should be strapped with an M-16 and sent into the frontlines in Iraq...let him eat the war that he preaches on a daily basis. Let him fight alongside the soldiers he essentially called "whiners". Let him ride in the Humvees without armor.

For that matter, send all of those chickenhawks in Washington over there as well....

NEW RULE: If you preach the desirability and virtues of war....you MUST put your money where your mouth is and be the first on the frontline!

U.S. companies challenge their fraud charges; say it's only a crime to steal U.S. money, not Iraqi money!

"ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Attorneys for a U.S.-based security company accused of setting up sham companies in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme in Iraq are contending in court that the firm cannot be sued under a key federal anti-corruption law because the allegedly stolen money belonged to Iraqis, not Americans.

The potentially precedent-setting case could undercut fraud claims involving billions of dollars in reconstruction contracts that were issued by the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority and paid for with money belonging to the Iraqi people.

Arguments broke out in federal court Friday over two fundamental questions: whether the CPA, which had ruled occupied Iraq, can be considered a U.S. agency, and whether fraud involving Iraqi money can be subject to suits under the False Claims Act, considered one of the federal government's most important tools against fraud.

John Boese, an attorney for the security firm, Custer Battles, asked a judge to dismiss the case as "fatally defective."

Yes....folks...we've reached the pinnacle of absurdity. Essentially this defense team is arguing that stealing is ok...provided its IRAQI funds that are being stolen, and not American funds.

Any wonder why the Iraqi people hate us or don't want to emulate our "superior" legal system? I mean...it's not like the company is DENYING that they stole...they simply take offense to being prosecuted by U.S. laws that criminalize stealing of OUR money...not theirs.

President Bush Person of the Year?

In the past, I've respected Time Magazine's Person of the Year award as being made in sound judgment. They don't decide who to put on their cover based on how GOOD they are (and we know how bad George W. Bush is), but how influential he is. But, somehow, knowing that a C-grade getting, "got into Yale cause my daddy helped me out", CEO failure in Arbusto and Texas Rangers, "got into the National Guard case daddy helped me out", went AWOL in it, snorted cocaine in my past, destroyed our economy, launched two illegitimate and disastrous wars, antagonized 49% of the country and the world population, GEORGE W. BUSH received the award makes me uncomfortable. VERY.

I sure hope Time Magazine explains WHY it chose Bush, because if there is even a hint of glorifying the man, they have ignored his actions.

Does this man need more idolization or more Che Guevara, looking into the horizon, paintings, as the one pictured on Time Magazine? Bush is no visionary...he tapped into the fear, hatred, and closet-racism of most of America...gave it voice, encouraged it, and let it loose...its consequences, both domestically and in foreign affairs, are already apparent.

Saturday, December 18, 2004

Michael Jackson hosts party for 200 children

Michael, Michael, Michael.....dawg....i love your music, I really do....but you GOT to stop hanging around kids...seriously. Two different molestation cases involving kids, and you are still having these type of parties? And who are the parents? Hello...the guy has had, not one, TWO cases of child molestation. First time...alright, maybe's innocent. Second time....too suspicious to trust my child around him.

Memo reveals broader presidential powers

All I have to say is that the Founders gave the Congress the power to declare war for a reason...to prevent wanton use of the United States military forces by a power-drunk President. Given that almost all of the wars after World War II have been undeclared, I'd say the Congress has been derelict in its duty to stand up for the Constitution, and the American people have allowed their government (especially the Executive Branch) to subvert the Constitution.

Sure to be explosive news...beyond what CBS reported (and sanitized for the American public), this specialist is testifying about his experience in Abu Ghraib, and releasing unfiltered photos that were not shown in the CBS release or Al-Jazeera.

He also attests that U.S. soldiers killed in Abu Ghraib, that torture was widespread and commonplace, that the high leadership knew about it and ignored it (he said they traded trophy pictures among their offices), and to top it off, one of the pictures shows a dead Iraqi child (no more than 8-10 years of age), with a bullet wound to the head: done by the Americans. The specialist describes that torture of children occured as well.

America....what have you done? We have become the Nazis......my god......

44% of Americans support restricting rights of Muslims IN America!

This is what happens when you feed a domestic population, fear, hatred, and jingo-patriotism...people start clamoring for the incarceration of particular groups and blame their problems on them. I believe the Nazis targeted Jews...we target Muslims. I believe Nazis made them wear Stars of David on their clothing...what we do is make them register their DNA and fingerprints at "processing centers" in fallujah, and make them wear a Badge on their clothing all the time...(this is the tactic planned for Fallujah residents, as we speak). Folks...this is not what the Founders intended...we have lost our way....

Friday, December 17, 2004

Eat this American people: Bush to cut domestic spending

Except for defense and domestic security, all other domestic agencies are warned that they are to expect lean budgets next year.

Thanks Republicans! Thanks for being morons...supporting this unnecessary war, that wastes hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars...now that you put the Chimp back in power...he's gonna cut the social services and domestic spending that all of us, including your families, depend on.

No crying when your kid loses financial aid! No crying when money is short to pay teachers! No crying when you get sick and can't get healthcare! No crying now...you guys voted for him...no you eat his policies!

The meddling has started: Allawi the favorite to win election?

Ok...now I'm getting angry...Are we to believe that the best Iraq can do is re-elect this ex-Baathist thug, who spied on Iraq for the United States CIA? Iraq...say it ain't so....the Kurds and Sunnis, fearing the Shiite domination at the polls, seem to be converging on Allawi as the "compromise choice" for the Prime Minister spot, after the National Assembly meets to choose an Executive Cabinet.

I surely hope not...not only will he give Iraq another 4 years of insurgency (as Allawi is deeply hated by the insurgents, and tainted by his cooperation with the United States and his background), but it will give President Bush a moral-political-symbolic victory (justifying the invasion and giving his invasion political cover). Bush would surely use an Allawi "election" to the Prime Ministership as he has used the election of puppet Karzai in Afghanistan. The biggest blow the Iraqi people can give Bush and the the U.S. foreign policy predicated on "wars and preemptive strikes" is for the Iraqi people to choose a clearly pro-Iraqi candidate...a real leader, not a puppet stooge. It's not only the Iraqi elections on the line...it's the ideal of self-determination for the world community. The historical record must be set straight that the United States is not above the law...and that its violation of international law resulted in an Iraqi government that would not bend to the American will. Iraqi and world dignity demand no less.

My question is....what's the opinion of the people at the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution, Sistani's Najaf offices, and Mugtada Sadr's Sadr City offices....highly unlikely that they are in support of Mr. Allawi continuing as the leading government official of the new Iraqi government....perhaps a compromise "legislative" role on some Parliament committee....but not the leadership of the nation! And that Allawi is not on the Sistani-blessed United Iraqi Alliance's electoral list will mean that his support will be meager...probably very small elements of the Kurd and Sunni populations.

So...what does the U.S. plan then? To have an unpopular, compromised, puppet Shiite, whose only base of power lies in Kurdish and Sunni areas, take power AFTER the National Assembly has been populated by majority Shiites (mostly from the United Iraqi Alliance) as some sort of compromise Prime Minister chosen by the National Assembly? Boy...politics does sure make strange bedfellows. Only in screwed up Iraqi politics can a former Baathist thug, who himself is a Shiite, take power, not because his ethnic group was supportive of him, but because the minority ethnic groups want him as the compromise choice (ethnic groups, mind you, which probably are at the heart of the Iraqi insurgency currently BATTLING him). So they battle him during the night...and want him as the compromise choice during the day? MIND BOGGLING....

Firebrand's Breath sincerely hopes that Allawi is not the candidate for Prime Ministership..and instead a popular Shiite is given such a role...after all...they are the majority. However, an effort should be made to include Kurd and Sunni officials in high cabinet positions.

oh...NOTE to the Shiites...in case you've haven't heard or noticed yet...Allawi is the preferred candidate of the Occupier...do with that information as you will....

Haitians demonstrate for return of Aristide

Aristide came to power with the reputation of being a populist "liberation theocracy" advocate. Someone who would stand for the people. In his years in power, he became corrupt and showed weakness in government..he was overthrown (not by the people, but paramilitary elements in the country), and then put back in power (rightly so) by the United States through an invasion. But, years later, the very same United States overthrew Aristide, by arming ex-members of the Duvalier criminal regime, residing on the other side of the border in the Dominican Republic and allowing them to wreak havoc through the Haitian nation. Faced with imminent overthrow, American officials removed the contigent of American bodyguards from Aristide, and offered him a blackmail choice: resign and come on our helicopter, or face death by the invading army. Aristide gave up power and left...later to claim he was overthrown illegally.

So, where does it stand in Haiti? It's obvious Aristide has been corrupt, as his critics allege, but not even close to the level of the human-rights violators of the ex-Duvalier regime who were armed and instigated by the United States in the Dominican Republic to wreak havoc on the nation. And if that's the case, then Aristide's removal was orchestrated by the United States, an illegal act of overthrowing an elected regime of another nation. The side-effect (to be expected) is that the newly-installed and unelected ex-Duvalier regime members are persecuting's Aristide's base in a reign of terror...culminating in today's demonstrations for a return of Aristide.

What is sadder about the Haitian story? That the United States YET again meddled in the affairs of a sovereign nation (probably the poorest in the Hemisphere), orchestrated an overthrow OR that the situation in Haiti is so bad that the best that can be accomplished, in the short term, is the return of the elected leader, Aristide, and a continuation of the economic/social stagnation that has characterized Haiti's history for quite a while now?

In my opinion, the first order of business is to remove the Duvalierist terrorists...they have no place in Haitian society...and should be prosecuted for the crimes of the Tonton Macoutes and other terrorist elements of the former regime. The United States should apologize and publicly disclose its involvement in orchestrating the recent overthrow, and Aristide should be installed in the interim, with a clear promise to hold new and fair elections. Only through such a process can a clean start of hope be attempted for what is a nation that has suffered too much on this Earth....probably unfairly due to its initial glory as being a black nation that dared to defy the white French (first) and then the colossus of the north....

Moammar Ghadaffi...praising Bush victory? HUH?

Ok...now I'm confused...wasn't Moammar Ghadafi an enemy of the United States until very recently? Then why is he taking part of the credit in Bush's victory (because Libya gave up its WMDs), and reveling in the fact that President Bush won?

Two things

One, a leader of a sovereign nation should not gloat over the fact that he, being their leader, prostrated himself in front of the European Union and the United States, and gave up his weapons. He surrendered...I'm all for WMD disarmament...but not on a piecemeal, selective basis. That's not disarmament, that's surrender/capitulation. Did the United States, Russia, China, and the rest of the WMD holding nations also give up their weapons? That bothers me that a leader of a nation is willing to be cowed like that....WMD disarmament as part of a holistic treaty approach...GREAT! Giving up weapons to curry favor with the United States....SELLOUT. The Joker is Not the Riddler...and there's a difference in outcomes/approaches.

Two, why is Moamar Ghaddafi, a self-proclaimed partisan of a Third-Way/Green Revolution and adherent of Nasserite, Arab socialism, and partisan of Third World nations' rights...glorifying in the re-election of the most imperial president in American history? Talk about selling out, not only your country, but your stated ideals! I'm betting a lot of idealistic pan-Arabist nationalists are a little disappointed to see their "towering figure", not only cowed by the West, but actively praising their imperial leaders. Not that Ghadafi was ever the best example of alternative Third World leadership...but, even Yassir Arafat, another Arab "socialist" turned corrupt dictator/autocrat never publicy reneged on his stated ideals for justice for Palestinians and NEVER praised President Bush. It's somehow as if, without Bush asking for it, Ghadafi is publicy making himself out to be Bush's bitch....Jesus, Ghadafi...have some self-respect, and don't do that to Libyans. If you're gonna play the part of hard-core, leftist, pan-Arabist, and anti-imperialist...then don't finish that "glorious" career off by kissing ass on the United States, and worst, their MOST imperial president. You'll never see Castro sellout to Bush and the United States like that!

This is too good...Zell Miller, the "Democrat"-turned-absolute nutball at the GOP convention will now honor the Swift Boat Veterans, the very same group that was found to be lying about Kerry's war record in Vietnam for political gain during the presidential campaign of 2004. First of, Zell...let it go....the election is over...and second...Firebrand's Breath would like to give Zell Miller it's prestigious award for "Most Prestigious Political Whore".

Congratulations Zell...Dante's last circle is waiting for you....10th door, to the right.

Cuba puts up U.S.-FASCIST billboards! hahah!

The U.S. mission in Cuba refused an order from the Cuban government to take down a number "75" which was placed alongside "Merry Christmas" wellwishing signs. The 75 alludes to 75 political prisoners the United States is pressuring Cuba about. The Cuban government, predictably, was angry that an embassy (or diplomatic mission) on its soil is intervening in the internal affairs of the country. Imagine a foreign embassy doing the same on American soil! The brouhaha that would spark!

So...what do the Cubans do? They get even. They post huge billboards of American torture in Iraq, images of Abu Ghraib, and put a Swastika next to it RIGHT IN FRONT of the U.S. mission. Talk about sweet revenge!

The message? Reiterating Jesus biblical admonition, "let those that are free of sin, throw the first stones". The U.S. threw stones at Cuba's human rights record...and the Cubans threw stones at the U.S. glass house regarding Abu Ghraib and other Iraqi war crimes.

I'd say the Cubans won this skirmish.

UPDATE: An interesting editorial on the subject and an interesting discussion on the subject. A bigger picture of the billboard here

Bhutan bans smoking; first nation to do so

Wel..at least one country has the political willpower to do what's right...ban smoking. The Kingdom of Bhutan, in the Himalayas.

Note, Firebrand's Breath believes that all drugs should be DEREGULATED...criminalizing drug use is not productive, fills jails with good people, and just jacks up the price of drug, increasing the chance of drug-related robberies and violence. Whatever people want to do to their OWN body is their own responsibility. They have been properly warned of the consequences of drugs.

However, studies have shown that tobacco smokes affect NON-smokers with second-hand smoke (which in many cases, is even more dangerous than first-hand). Many second-hand smokers have developed cancers as a result...Firebrand's Breath believes that it is in the interest of society for smoking to be banned, because it is not fair to non-smokers to have to die of cancer because of someone else's drug habit. Personal drug use should not be regulated, but drug use that affects others physically, SHOULD.

Thursday, December 16, 2004

Evildoers, Here We Come

A very eye-opening and very good summary of the ideological/political underpinnings of our current foreign policy. Anyone who reads this will be well-armed to understand the motivations of the coming U.S. wars in the world, the reason we went into Iraq, the reasons our media coverage is so blatantly aiding the "emotional preparations" for future wars, and the possible consequences of wars in Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.

Highly recommended...take the time to read this article, if you don't read others.

Now, this is bullshit...he didn't even judge merits or evidence of the case.

It seems the claimants challenged TWO election results in ONE complaint, and Ohio law requires only ONE election result in ONE complaint (multiple complaints needed). Basically, a technicality decision...the challengers will simply have to refile the case in two complaints (which they will do).

But still...this Ohio Judge...what a fucking piece of shit...these people come and bring a serious case before him, and he plays coy with technicalities? Delaying the case? This is why Republicans in Judicial branches is a bad thing...when true cases with evidence are brought before them, they start playing with technicalities to dismiss cases they don't like.

Government official to be recalled because he refuses to stand for the Pledge

To me, the issue of the Pledge always seemed like the American equivalent of "seig heiling" in Germany. Most people do it without thinking, it becomes part of the conformist wave of actions that one does every day. But, if you examine the words, what you really are pledging is your loyalty to the Republic (the government). Well, what if you disagree with part of the Pledge? Or what if you disagree with pledging loyalty to the government? Perhaps you believe in yourself, your friends, your community, and certain principles and are willing to pledge loyalty to them, but what if you don't want to pledge loyalty to a government you do not agree with? Isn't pledging loyalty to the regime in power what "seig heiling" was all about? In Nazi Germany, if you didn't throw your arm up when German officials passed by, you would suffer social repercussions for it. In America, if you don't put your palm on your chest and Pledge allegiance to the U.S. Flag and its Republic, you suffer social repercussions for it. Let me know when the parallel to fascism becomes apparent....

Ok...what's wrong with this... if you refuse to "Seig Heil" for America, you lose your government seat?

Sounds to me like the people leading this recall measure are intolerant fascists...if they can't force this man to give up his political convictions, will go out of their way to throw him out through a recall election. And the funny thing is that the man's not doing it for political reasons (lord knows there is enough evidence in display to be ashamed of this government and not want to pledge allegiance to it). He's doing it for patriotic reasons; for interpreting the Constitution's Church-State seperation and refusing to cross that boundary through the Pledge.

So, they will recall an honest, principled man...and put in his place a "Seig Heil" saluting, conformist, drone/puppet? Quite sad for freedom of speech and democracy in the United States.

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Pentagon: 130 U.S. Troops punished for torture

Well..that settles it, doesn't it? 130 punished U.S. soldiers for torture, who knows how many went to trial and didn't get punished, and who knows how many didn't even get reported.

Not isolated anymore, is it conservatives? This is pretty much the nail in the coffin in the absurd belief that the United States is somehow exclusive in its "moral practices" in times of war...they are as brutal as any other nation...and should be condemned for their brutality, as strong as we condemn other nations for their brutality.

Israel sale of advanced weaponry to China enrages U.S.

I found this article quite funny...after 50 years of consistent economic, political, military, and moral support to the Israeli state, Israel decides to sell weapons to the United States premier superpower rival, China. It's almost like a woman being devoted to her husband for 50 years, only to find her husband having an affair with the woman she's been competing against for a long time...

I can completely sympathize, U.S....but you know...you really did ask for it...considering Israel's never been very faithful in return...you live and you learn, eh U.S.? What's that? You are going to continue giving Israel billions of dollars?! Wow...suit yourself then...

Judge who wore blackface suspended from bench

"Hey honey...I'm going out to the Halloween party...what am I wearing? oh...nothing...just my blackface costume, complete with handcuffs and a prison outfit...you don't think it will raise any eyebrows, will it?"

Jimmy Carter questions Iraqi elections

Comments from the man who has become synonimous with "fair elections" around the world.

Summary of his assessment:

"I think the whole Iraqi situation has been a debacle, a very costly one. I don't see how all the rudimentary requirements for a free and safe election can be achieved in another month. How can anyone campaign? How can anyone go and vote without fear?"

There you have it folks. If the rest of the "doomsayers" didn't convince you...then maybe Carter's comments should give pause to think about this Iraqi election...coincidentally, he also criticized Florida's preparedness for our own election, and the issue of electronic voting, which is now at the forefront of the Ohio vote fraud movement...but who cares about that, right? It's not like we are the Ukraine, or something....

Defense Minister of Iraq accuses Iran of being #1 enemy

Normally I would let the comments of a member of the U.S.-installed puppet regime go without comment. After all...his legitimacy is without question (that is, he has none, and even less that it comes from the United States occupation).

But I thought it was revealing of how divorced his views are from the Iraqi mainstream. On two occassions, he derides "turbaned clerics" ruling in Iraq...not that I think Iraq is going to turn totally like Iran, but if we had to pick a country in the world in which we think Iraq would model their government system, it would be Iran. Why? Because it just so happens that Iraq's Shiite Muslims make up 60% of the Iraqi population, and the top leaders of that section of Iraqi society (Hakim, Sadr, Sistani, etc.) are all highly devout theological muslims. And, with their respective constituencies combined, they do reflect the majority of Iraq.

Chances are that Hakim, of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (inspired by the Iranian Revolution) will be the next Prime Minister of Iraq, as he leads the current United Iraqi Alliance electoral list, and his party has the most polled support...and last time I checked, Hakim, Sadr, and Sistani are all TURBANED CLERICS.

Just a thought on how divorced the thoughts of the puppet-regime members are from the Iraqi mainstream...

Saddam to call CIA agent as witness

An interesting development...it seems one of the major charges against Saddam is going to receive a big "burst bubble" effect...and a CIA agent is going to be the reason.

The much talked about Halabja massacre has long been assailed as being a "false charge", with claims made that the Halabja massacre was actually the result of Iranian chemical attacks (a medical study done on the chemicals found that the chemicals used were in the Iranian and not Iraqi arsenal). Still, this CIA report, by this agent, will confirm that story.

Not that it will matter much with the final result of this trial...Saddam may be innocent of the Halabja massacre...but he's got thousands more to answer for. But, for historical accuracy...it should be noted that Saddam is most likely (based on these reports) NOT responsible for the Halabja massacre.

It's sad that the people of the world have to resort to unofficial proceedings to make their case against the illegal Iraq invasion...in a fair world, a U.S. court would allow such a case to run through its system...and the evidence (which is overwhelming) would be given a fair hearing...but, alas, that won't happen in today's conservative ruled Judicial Branch, let alone the conservative-controlled Legislative and Executive branches.

Rutgers University might have found a way to stop HIV!

In hopeful news, Firebrand's Breath wants to report that Rutgers University' researchers have had much success with a trio set of drugs that seem to halt and stop HIV...read the report for a full technical description.

Firebrand's Breath prays to God that the cure has been found....many people are suffering and need the help of these talented and great researchers....

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to give out food stamps to faith-based org.

Anybody else see a BIG RED FLAG on this issue? By giving out food stamps to faith-based organizations, you give undue power to religious organizations to hang food stamps in front of needy, hungry people as if were a carrot...

U.S. to bring back "black propaganda"

America...standing up for "truth, justice, and the American way"....well...not truth anymore...and the whole justice thing...well...ask the 100,000 dead Iraqis...and yeah...what is that American way, again? These last 4 years have totally confused me....

U.S. flaunts Diplomatic protocol...angers Cuban government

Not that the U.S. has EVER cared about diplomatic protocol (probably the reason it gets into so many wars)...but when a government tells foreign embassies to pull down signs...shouldn't the invited embassy do it?

And the moral irony? The U.S. abusing Guantanamo detainees on stolen Cuban territory...but then displaying this sign against "human rights' violations in Cuba (regarding Cuban dissidents).

Again, another incident of "casting stones without being free of sin"....how the stones fly in glass houses, no?

Creationist fight boils! Court case filed!

Creationists are trying to use the court system to force the Adam and Eve story down the throats of the rest of society....

how is it that we went through an Enlightment, Scientific Revolution, and Reformation....only to end up immitating theocratic Islam in terms of its explanatory theories of reality? What's next? Newton's laws out the window...bring in "Intelligent God-provoked laws of floatation and Non-Floatation"?

U.S. found to have mismanaged Iraq, U.N. panel finds

Sad that the United States doesn't learn this lesson, nor its conservatives on Fox News, who seem to be having a field day with Kofi Annan and the U.N. Oil For Food Scandal...as if that was the worst or only scandal EVER in world history...

but in a case of people "casting stones while NOT being free of sin", the U.N. has ruled that the United States has mismanaged Iraqi affairs (ministries, funds, oil, and contract awards) to such a level as to constitute a WORST scandal than the Oil For Food Scandal.

Cuba/Venezuela launch the "Bolivarian Alternative for America (ALBA)

Very interesting....not that I totally agree with Fidel or Chavez regimes (Chavez gets more credit for actually letting the opposition have free speech/free press, and actually ruling in Constitutional fashion, even giving the opposition a referendum chance that they fairly lost, according to the Carter Center), but you know....this idea wouldn't be bad. I always say that a problem of the Left is the answer to "if not capitalism, what?" question. Strictly on the issue of economic trade areas...it wouldn't be bad for the world (and Latin America in particular) for alternative economic arrangements to be available for countries that want to participate in them. Lord knows the FTAA (and its NAFTA mother) are pure neoliberal capitalist crap, destined to entrench the recalcitrant right-wing elements in Latin America and screw the regular people, while American companies run away with Third World resources and profits.

Firebrand's Breath will report more on the ALBA alternative as it develops....

UPDATE: So...South America is forming its own "EU" union? Bolivar's dream IS gonna come true? Man...I got to keep up with Latin American news reports....i'm behind....

Alabama Judge wears Ten Commandments on Robe

*Groan*...oh God....first that Roy Moore guy in Mississipi, who was ordered to remove the Ten Commandments from a rotunda inside the Courthouse, and now this guy flaunts the spirit, if not the precedent of the Appeals Court decision in Mississipi to bring the Ten Commandments into the courtroom.

As if just knowing the Ten Commandments will stop all crime...what are these Christianofascists thinking?

McKathan told The Associated Press that he believes the Ten Commandments represent the truth "and you can't divorce the law from the truth. ... The Ten Commandments can help a judge know the difference between right and wrong."

WRONG! The law states that there should be no establishment of religion by official institutions...not only is the judge wrong in claiming that the Ten Commandments are "the truth" (whose truth, who said so?), he explicitly links it to the LAW, and explicitly tells the public that he personally bases his court decisions on Christian religious dogma (the Ten Commandments). This is PRECISELY the type of linking of religion and official jurisprudence/government that the Founders wanted to avoid...the Founders believed that the law SHOULD be divorced from "the truth". Nothing wrong with claiming inspiration from established norms of right and wrong, provided such inspiration doesn't come from one source only...and this judge implies he gets his judicial knowledge from the Ten Commandments.

This is TOO close to religious jurisprudence in America...he should follow the principles of the Mississipi case that barred the Ten Commandments in American courtrooms.

The Rise and Fall of the Amerikan Nazis

In another time of my life, I would have laughed at such articles as being representative of the Cooky Left (those guys REALLY on the left of me)...but you know what...Mr. Valenzuelas is right...this country has gone down a slippery slope these last 4 years, the likes that I don't think I've ever seen in my life. Very good article.

Wonder what sparked their RUSHED entrance into a long-running story. Ghandi said it...

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win". Are they in "fight you" mode, now? Almost there, then.

Let see what coverage they give...

UPDATE:

The Washington Post - MSNBC story is titled "Ohio Offers lessons for 2008"...haha...just telling us vote fraud people "give it up"...a case is before the Ohio Supreme Court alleging the outcome is wrong, questions are still in the air about the validity of the election...and the Wash. Post is already telling us..."it's just lessons for next time"....no...it's lessons for NOW.

Monday, December 13, 2004

HEARINGS LIVE ON CSPAN 4:30

Everyone, I'm listening to the Hearings on Vote Fraud in Ohio with Congressmen and many prominent people on the vote fraud movement testifying..it's a bombshell of a hearing! definitely will go down in history...

Just when you thought that common decency would be a natural taboo against non-military people criticizing soldiers when they do complain (LEGITIMATELY, mind you) about military affairs, you get people like Gloria Borger (U.S. News and World Report) and Kathleen Parker (Orlando Sentinel). Gloria thinks that the troop who asked Rumsfeld the question about not enough armor for tanks was being "insubordinate"...and Kathleen...well...""They bellyache if you ask them, if they haven't had a bath in two days.."

Now...that's having balls...when's the last time you've gotten bullets flying by your ass, Kathleen? One thing is to criticize the war on Iraq and criticize even the naivete of soldiers for going along...but if a soldier decries his conditions, people should listen. After all...don't we listen to our "heroes" anymore? Asking for proper armor to fight the war is not "bellyaching"...you should be ashamed of yourselves, ladies.

I vote for these two women to be strapped with an M-16 and put in the frontlines...let's see if they don't "bellyache" after living a few weeks in the conditions that these soldiers have lived in.

Sunday, December 12, 2004

Cliff Arnebeck: "Kerry won Ohio and the nation"....

VERY EXPLOSIVE story here...Cliff Arnebeck, who is spearheading a lawsuit in Ohio to halt the election results has been interviewed by Randi Rhodes (available above). The most explosive tidbit,

"Here is a precis of what Arnebeck says in the interview:

He says a lawsuit will be filed 9.00 Monday. He does not want to give too much away because the other side will be listening. Conyers is convening a hearing at City Hall Chambers in Columbus, Broad Street, joined by fellow members of his committe and progressive legislative leaders in the state of Ohio. It was originally scheduled to be at the State Capitol but they have been refused a room there. At the hearing, various experts will lay out evidence, for the press and others "that Kerry won Ohio and the nation, and that there is overwhelming evidence to that effect."

So, they got evidence of fraud? Enough to convince the press that Kerry won? Interesting...can't wait for monday's press conference!

Saturday, December 11, 2004

Could North Korea intel be tainted as well?

This article seems to point that way...an expert in foreign affairs is detailing that the intel used to assess North Korea's threat level may have undergone the "Iraq treatment" (meaning, unconfirmed worst-case scenarios become THE reality).

Should we view U.S. government pronouncements on North Korea, their abilities, and their motivations with skepticism? You betcha.

Rumsfeld caught in, yet another, LIE

According to Donald Rumsfeld, American Humvee production was at its maximum...but this report indicates that a leading armor-producing company has been waiting for new orders since September, and can produce a rise in armor production with no new investment. In simple terms...it's been sitting on its hands...waiting for orders from the Army.

Pentagon planning to keep Guantanamo prison PERMANENTLY

This even though most jurisprudential actions right now in American courts is pointing toward a legal weakening of the legitimacy of the detainee prisons in the first place.

Goes to show you that the law is not something Bush's regime is concerned about...he's concerned about institutionalizing a practice that thwarts international law for future usage...

ehem...ehem...and what about the Cubans? Nobody really asks the question...umm...does Guantanamo even belong to us? The Cuban government has never reneged in its declaration that Guantanamo is a holdout from the post 1898 colonial days in which the United States controlled Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Phillipines, and Guam. After the Revolution, the Guantanamo base was never returned...and the U.S. sends "rent" checks to keep the base there. Fidel Castro has famously collected the checks in his private study to show his visitors...and he hasn't cashed a single one. Sovereignty and territorial integrity, America, is not for sale. Guantanamo should be returned to the Cuban people, who are the rightful owners of that part of the island, and the prison there dismantled.

Friday, December 10, 2004

Southern school defends a pro-slavery booklet

I'm REALLY REALLY interested in hearing the conservative "defenses"...I really, REALLY am....One more reasons why the Blue (North) should secede from the South...how can we have anything in common with folks who don't pass anti-segregationist amendments (Alabama), and who write such ludicrious booklets and then defend them as educational material.

Right up there with Holocaust denial...oh yeah...American chattel slavery WAS a Holocaust...for blacks!

Fallujah to be "hamleted" ALA Vietnam concentration camps

Just when you thought the idiocy of the Americans couldn't get worse...here you go. Bringing back the failed policy of putting people into concentration camps...sure to ignite more anti-AMerican hatred and backlash against this colonialist policy.

United Iraqi Alliance formed; poised to win Iraqi elections

It seems that a nationalist coalition of the future leaders of Iraq has been formed, and they go by the umbrella name, "United Iraqi Alliance". Mostly a collection of the major Shia parties (Dawa, Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution) and with the endorsement of both Ali Sistani and Moqtada Al-Sadr, this group seems poised to garner an easy majority at the polls, as it contains not only the majority Shiite leaders, but even members of the Turkomen and Kurdish minorities.

Very glaringly absent from this list? Sunni leaders...who are either fighting the insurgency or boycotting the election.

Good for the Iraqi majority that they get to express themselves in a democratic election...but, I continue to hammer the point: at the end of the day, was it worth it to kill 100,000 Iraqis and 1200+ American soldiers (more wounded) to facilitate an election in which the victors will probably be parties with a clear disdain and anger against American intervention?

This democratic "adventure" by the Americans may result in a bittersweet ending...democracy in Iraq...resulting in anti-American Shiite governments that have close ties to Shiite Iran. Go figure.

UPDATE: Interesting...25 percent of the Iraqi National Assembly must be women...I view this as a positive measure in pushing forward social/gender attitudes in Iraq...but isn't this quotas or affirmative action? So, it's ok to open firehouses in Iraq, close them down in the U.S. It's ok for universal healthcare in Iraq, not Ok in the U.S. It's ok to have quotas and affirmative action in the Iraqi National Assembly, unthinkable in the United States.

Thursday, December 09, 2004

U.S. Marine admits U.S. war crimes

Interesting story...a U.S. marine, testifying for another U.S marine deserter in Canada (who is seeking asylum) was declared that in just two days, they killed 30 innocent Iraqi civilians. The other marine (the deserter) is seeking asylum because he doesn't want to go back to Iraq to commit more war crimes.

Soldiers ask hard questions of Rumsfeld; he dismisses them disdainfully

At a recent "pep rally" in Iraq, soldiers asked Rumsfeld some very pointed questions. Here are some:

""Why do we soldiers have to dig through local landfills for pieces of scrap metal and compromised ballistic glass to uparmor our vehicles?" Wilson asked. A big cheer arose from the approximately 2,300 soldiers in the cavernous hangar who assembled to see and hear the secretary of defense."

Rumsfeld: ""You go to war with the Army you have," not the one you might want, and that any rate the Army was pushing manufacturers of vehicle armor to produce it as fast as humanly possible."

WOW...Rumsfeld, lecturing the soldier with a tone of "don't be greedy and ask for more" while that soldier is the one taking the bullets and RPGs, and Rumsfeld sits comfortably in the Pentagon. It doesn't end there...

"And, the defense chief added, armor is not always a savior in the kind of combat U.S. troops face in Iraq, where the insurgents' weapon of choice is the roadside bomb, or improvised explosive device.

"You can have all the armor in the world on a tank and it can (still) be blown up," Rumsfeld said."

WELL...DUH! But I think the soldiers and their families would rather they DO have the armor to lessen injuries and death! Where the hell did the 200 billion for this war go, if not prioritized to protect the lives of the soldiers? Geesh! MORE....

"Asked later about Wilson's complaint, the deputy commanding general of U.S. forces in Kuwait, Maj. Gen. Gary Speer, said in an interview that as far as he knows, every vehicle that is deploying to Iraq from Camp Buehring in Kuwait has at least "Level 3" armor. That means it at least has locally fabricated armor for its side panels, but not necessarily bulletproof windows or protection against explosions that penetrate the floorboard.

Speer said he was not aware that soldiers were searching landfills for scrap mental and used bulletproof glass."

BULLSHIT ALERT! Was not aware that soldiers were scrapping for parts in Iraqi landfills? Oh god...give me a fucking break! It's been very documented and very well-known, from the grunts to the top officers, that U.S. soldiers had not been properly armed for this mission, and this is part of the non-planning for the "peace" that was a reality of this war. And, buddy, Level 3 armor just doesn't cut it...soldiers SHOULD have bulletproof windows (they are getting shot at with BULLETS, not sticks and stones!) and most of the explosions come from, you guessed it, floor-side, remote-activated bombs that blow away the FLOORBOARD. So, the General just admitted that U.S. soldiers are vulnerable to precisely the type of attacks they mostly get, hit-run gun sprays, and roadside bombs. MORE....

"During the question-and-answer session, another soldier complained that active-duty Army units sometimes get priority over the National Guard and Reserve units for the best equipment in Iraq.

"There's no way I can prove it, but I am told the Army is breaking its neck to see that there is not" discrimination against the National Guard and Reserve in terms of providing equipment, Rumsfeld said."

"but I am told...." Hahahahaha...what freshness...what chutzpah! "but I am told"....screw what you've been told Mr. Rumsfeld...you're hearing it from the soldiers themselves...listen to them!

"Yet another soldier asked, without putting it to Rumsfeld as a direct criticism, how much longer the Army will continue using its "stop loss" power to prevent soldiers from leaving the service who are otherwise eligible to retire or quit.

Rumsfeld said that this condition was simply a fact of life for soldiers at time of war.

"It's basically a sound principle, it's nothing new, it's been well understood" by soldiers, he said. "My guess is it will continue to be used as little as possible, but that it will continue to be used."

"it's been well understood by soldiers" (meaning, YOU...stupid soldier don't get it...you must be a weirdo, or worse, a crybaby traitor). Just a simple fact of life for soldiers (so shut up and take it).

How about this...soldiers...why don't you guys show Rumsfeld a fact of life about war...without the consent of soldiers...there is no war. Next time Rumsfeld shows up...don't go see his rallies, and tell him that if he doesn't get you the resources you need, you'll refuse orders. Then he'll learn about "facts of life".

Monday, December 06, 2004

Wayne Madsen releases a source, EVIDENCE of fraud

Wayne Madsen releases his 4th article on the issue of vote fraud. He is now reporting that a man named Clint Curtis has testified, via a notarized affidavit, that he was hired by Republican Tom Feeney of Florida to develop a "vote rigging" software program. Read the article for more information.

Also visit http://www.bradblog.com for more coverage (they are experiencing server problems right now, but keep trying).

The investigation of fraud is starting to take steam.

UPDATE: The Brad Blog has been hit with MAJOR traffic since this whistleblower affidavit was published...Brad is reporting that his story LINKS with Wayne Madsen, but Madsen is adding more details that he has not confirmed...the part about Clint Curtis is TRUE and CONFIRMED. One sad note...Brad has posted a statement on http://www.crooksandliars.com where he confirms that Clint Curtis has told him that his healthy, 3 year old German Shepard is now DEAD, after only a few hours of submitting the affidavit....political assassination, anyone?

This guy is on to something...his life is in danger...and they killed his dog...the bastards!

Sunday, December 05, 2004

Pentagon Admits War on Terror a Failure!

No, no kidding here...the Pentago is admitting pretty much the entire laundry list of accusations from liberal dissenters in the United States: that the war on Iraq raised Muslim animosity, that the world is isolating America, and that the War on Terror has suffered critical losses...

U.S. arrest Sistani's electoral aide

Is the U.S. TRYING to lose the war on Iraq? Sistani word is followed TO THE LETTER by the Shiite population of Iraq (60% of the country). Arresting his aide who carries the electoral list for him is just NOT SMART....

Lawyer claims he has PROOF of fraud in Ohio, files lawsuit! HOT!

Cliff Arnebekc, of the Alliance for Democracy, is filing suit to have the vote results in Ohio overturned. He doesn't seek a recount...he seeks annulment of the Ohio vote...and claims to have the evidence to prove it....more on this as it develops..but visit the Daily Kos story.

Wayne Madsen checking his sources..some are fake

Firebrand's Breath has included links to three articles by Wayne Madsen in which he claims a conspiracy to rig the election...it seems some of his info is bogus...he will detail what is bogus in his next article, and what is true....

No confirmation one way or the other if Madsen's case has been demolished or if there is still credible evidence of fraud...more to come in the future.

Abu Ghraib, part deux?

More of the "isolated" and "not widespread" actions of American soldiers...

a new report has surfaced about pictures that show Navy SEALS sitting on top of hooded prisoners. The U.S. military is going to launch an "investigation". Most of the pictures seem to depict events after raiding CIVILIAN homes in Iraq...way to win hearts and minds, YET AGAIN, U.S. soldiers! ANd look at this!

" Gary Solis, a former Marine Corps prosecutor and judge who teaches at the United States Military Academy, said the images showed "stupid" and "juvenile" behavior — but not necessarily a crime."

So what the hell IS a crime? Hello! "Breaking and Entering, Raiding a Home, TERRORIZING civilian families, putting boots on their heads (that's assault and battery), holding knives to their throats (assault, threat)...where do they get their legal experts in the Associated Press? In any other country, the actions of those soldiers would be rightly deemed war crimes. It is a testament to the absolute brutality of the American occupation in Iraq that these "lesser" crimes are not even considered illegal...we have been desensitized. No U.S. soldier has the right to break and enter into civilian homes, terrorize the families, and humiliate them afterwards...the rule of the barrel of the gun (which is the rule in Iraq) does not equal the rule of law....Americans are breaking international law in Iraq.

" "Some of these photos clearly depict faces and names of Naval Special Warfare personnel, which could put them or their families at risk," Bender said."

Screw 'em. Are we supposed to feel sorry for these guys?

What's there to investigate? You got some poor excuses for human beings (Navy SEALS) dehumanizing and humiliating other human beings...and usually getting away with it. This is what happens when you enter another country, illicit resistance, and cannot seem to win. Vietnam-style paranoia sets in, and you finally lose so much of your humanity that you end up with Abu Ghraib, this incident, and officers justifying attacks on Fallujah because "Satan" lives there.

Who are the good guys, again? I can't tell the difference between this and what other "bad" countries do.

And THIS guy is President of Iraq?

http://movies.ziaspace.com/Ghazi.wmv

Take a look at this video...look at the complete ignorance of this man regarding WHEN American troops will leave HIS country. This is the American-appointed President of that country...a guy who, to his credit, has made some pointed comments about the idiocy of the American military approach to Iraq's problems, but otherwise has been a figure-head.

And THIS guy is President of Iraq? Is anyone fooled? Iraq is ruled from the White House, folks.

HIV Spread by tears and sweat...so may think Bill Frist

http://movies.ziaspace.com/FristThis.wmv

I'll give this guy the benefit of doubt...since he did say "I don't know"...but...really...if you are educated and even more...a DOCTOR...you should know that sweat and tears don't spread AIDS...there's ample studies proving that.

Hundreds of thousands of dead people on battleground state voter rolls

Hey folks...been out having a life, ya know. But I don't forget ya all. Here's the scoop...

The Chicago Tribune has done an excellent analysis into the vote fraud allegations surfacing primarily out of dedicated citizen group websites, third-party efforts, and bloggers on the net. They put the New York Time and the rest of the "elite" newspapers to shame by doing what they should have done...alas..

the most shocking part of their reports is the finding of hundred of thousands of dead people on the voter roll, even after governmental lists had been produced earlier to corroborate their living status. This leaves the door WIDE OPEN for people to go and claim they are Abraham Lincoln, and go vote. The electoral system in at least 6 battleground states stink...this is no way for the premier democracy of the world to work.

Fallujah STILL not conquered?

Firebreand Breath's reported before that the claims of the U.S. conquering of Fallujah have been contested by various international news reports. It seems the insurgency is in fact playing the old "cat and mouse" game of guerrilla warfare. The initial planned retreat fooled the American armed forces into thinking the enemy was fleeing, when in fact they were regrouping for guerrilla tactics in the city.

Have fun, U.S. soldiers...you stirred the hornet's nest...now you clean it up.

Canadian Torture lawsuits aims at President Bush

Following up on a similar attempt at holding U.S. officials accountable to their war crimes in Germany...a group of lawyers against the war on Iraq are filing paperwork to gain permission to charge George Bush with violating the United Nations convention on Torture, which Canada is a party to.

I wish them luck...though I don't think Martin's government will oblige this request.